Used 2015 Ford Focus ST Consumer Reviews

Great Car

Deceptively sporty, I like it because it takes off like a rocket but won't get you pulled over either. If you're a larger person there's still decent headroom (I'm 6'3") but the Recaro seats might be a little uncomfortable on long drives. It's a really great ride though and very well designed. Very suitable for use as a daily driving vehicle. If you regularly carry four people though, you should probably consider something larger - not a ton of legroom in the rear seat.

4 cylinder with v8 torque and race car handling!!

I had a 2015 focus st for a year. There was nothing wrong with the car. I only traded it in because I've been wanting to own a mustang since I was a little kid so when I was given a great offer for a 2017 mustang gt new I couldn't reject it. I will say that I will own another focus st as soon as I have room to have it sit next to my mustang in the garage. The car is amazing. I'm not new to high performance cars. Having worked at a dealership and being able to drive cars home and owned fast cars for extended periods of time, I've driven ferraris, Lamborghinis, cámaros, mustangs, corvettes, Porsches, sti's, golf r, mclaren, Nissan GT-R, M bmws like M5, M3, AMG Mercedes, RS audis , SRT cars. To make short I've driven the best of the best. The focus st has amazing steering and steering feel. Supercar like. I haven't driven a car with better steering even a supercar as good but not better. Anyone with a budget who needs 4 doors, trunk space, MPG, hp, reliability should buy this car! The car has plenty of power! And add just a couple upgrades and this car will have 400 torque. More that some v8's. A hatch rocket that gets 32 mpg!! AWD wrx or golf r not always the best. AWD gets worse gas mpg. I drove this car through snowstorms in Buffalo and New England winters. Snow tires and you're all set. What makes this car better than all the cars I've mentioned is that it's a car you can enjoy! You can floor it and take turns fast. Straight line acceleration is very good too. Lots of torque!! Very easy to drive in town. Push a supercar to the limits on the street and you will go to jail. Even the 435 hp mustang gt that I currently own has too much power that I never use. The focus st is the most fun car I've ever driven. This car is super tossable and corners like it's on rails!! When I want to relax it drives like a regular car. I know some people don't buy it because it's a manual but it's European based build in Germany. In Europe they still sell more manuals than autos. Manuals are less costly in the long run! You can run a stock focus st at the racetrack all day without the car even flinching. The quality is very impressive. The best steering I've ever seen and felt. It's a recaro of course. Very easy to drive and very quiet stock. Very easy to park and find parking. I added a flowmaster Super 10 muffler and it really woke up the car. I recommend it only if you don't mind a louder exhaust note. No rattles after a year. Brakes barely wore. Tires plenty of thread. The eagle f1's are amazing. Nothing but oil changes, tire rotations. If you buy a focus st make sure you put a sticky tire during the summer so the car sticks like glue and you can enjoy it to its full potential. The car is very fuel efficient. I would take it out for joy rides for an hour on backroads now and then and it would barely use any gas. I do recommend an intercooler because the car heatsoaks after a couple pulls. The only other ISSUE WITH THIS CAR IS CARBON BUILD UP!! CARBON BUILD UP ON THE VALVES SINCE ITS DIRECT INJECTED. MY VALVES WERE DIRTY AFTER 20,000 MILES. If ignored car will shutter at cold start up and can cause an engine light due to misfire like it happened to me once. Once cleaned it runs like new. Plan to have the valves clean every 20,000 miles or you can use valve cleaner from an auto parts store. Common issue with the direct injected ecoboost. Ford has no approved procedure so the dealership will most likely not touch the car and will want to replace the whole cylinder head which is completely unnecessary. Has to be take to an independent shop that knows how to do the process. Just google intake valve cleaning in your area. Most commonly you will run into a shop that does it regularly on some audis and bmw's. Don't shy way from the car because of this. It happens to any direct injected engine like some audis bmw's, Hyundai, Volkswagen, ford, chevy. Car has nice stereo, Bluetooth, keyless entry, push start, HILL START!! WILL HELP IF YOURE WORRIED ABOUT A MANUAL ON HILLS. Computer will hold rear brakes while you release the clutch so the car doesn't move backwards. Awesome feature!!! Very fun car to drive. Soft clutch. Manual so much fun. Drove it cross country twice!! No problems. Just watch your speed on the highway because this car was build for high speeds on the autobahn since it's based for Europe and you find yourself cruising at 85-100 mph without noticing. The suspension might be a little rough for some people but it's what makes that car handle like a race car! I don't doubt that you can easily put 300,000 miles on this car plus it's a ford at the end of the day. You can find parts everywhere and cheap to maintain. Buy this car. You won't regret it.

2015 Focus ST @203 K mi - R I P

I sold the car for salvage for less than $1,400 after Bergey's Ford of Lansdale swindled me for about $2,400 for turbo replacement. The turbo had leaked coolant into the engine causing the car to overheat and (I found out LATER) caused the block to deform. I asked Bergey's service department to minimize repair costs due to the high mileage of the car. They recommended replacing the turbo for $2,400. Next Bergey's Ford of Lansdale told me that repair did not solve the problem -- the car needed a new engine for an ADDITIONAL $7,000. Had Bergey's Ford of Lansdale told me that in the beginning I would have cut my losses at the point. The car's value at that point was less than the $9,400 total cost of actually repairing it. I STRONGLY suggest AVOID having Ford service done at Bergey's Ford of Lansdale.

Great so far, and huge improvement over 2012 Focus SE

I recently traded my 2012 Focus SE Hatchback 5 sp manual on the 2014 Focus ST with ST3 package (full leather Recaros). The difference is night and day- it feels like a completely different car. There is ample power and huge amounts of torque, even very low on the tach, and zero turbo lag. Steering, shifting, braking, and handling are all very tight and quick. While the 2012 felt reasonably solid, it did have a few rattles. The 2014 on the other hand feels like a bank vault- rock solid and dead quiet. The performance is stunning (other than a bit of torque steer when the throttle is pinned), I'm averaging 26 mpg in the dead of winter, and it's a very quiet and docile daily driver.

Amazing bang for the buck.

When I went looking for a new car I really wanted some sporty but practical. I really loved the Subaru WRX but with a bare bones WRX it was over $26k. Found out about the Focus ST, did some research, and I had to test drive it. I ended up with the basic 2015 Ford Focus ST (no Recaro seats, dual climate, etc). I paid far less than the WRX and got much more; standard it has fog lights, LED running day lights (give it an aggressive look) Bluetooth, back up camera, great looking exhaust, all four power windows have one touch up/down, stainless steel pedals, very nice low profile wheels, and on top of this better gas mileage. I can't account for how the Recaro seats feel, I've heard mixed reviews, but the cloth seats that come with it look great (gray and black with ST logo stitched into seat) and are super comfortable, even for longer rides. As a daily driver it's a great ride. You have the speed when you want it and fuel economy to match. Merging onto the highway is a thoroughly enjoyable experience now and picking up speed on the highway takes no time at all. Where it's most fun is a good backroad, the steering is really tight, precise, and has a great feel. Add onto this the practicality of a hatch and you've got one great car. I can't account for the longevity of the vehicle but I'm hoping for the best, so far I've had 0 issues with. Pros: Great bang for the buck given everything that comes with it standard. Great gas mileage for a sport car with a turbocharger (have gotten up to 33mpg on the highway). Hatchback fits a lot, after removing the privacy cover I've fit two 80lb dogs comfortably in the back without lowering the seats. The acceleration. Cons: Only a 60,000 mile warranty through Ford, which is kind of pitiful compared to their competitors. Ford says you can use 87 octane fuel but from what I've researched you'll lose a little bit of fuel economy and 9 horsepower, no change in peak torque though. The backup camera occasionally won't turn on when you put it in reverse, have to pop it into neutral and then shift it back into reverse. Comes with summer tires standard which is great until the winter. Does not do well in the snow at all, but I am cheap and could not justify buying brand new all seasons or winter tires when I've got a new set of tires already on it. It may perform well in the snow with better tires.

Fun, Value, Economy - It's tough to beat

I purchased a Certified Pre-Owned ST3 roughly two months ago. With about 1200 miles into driving it, my overall impression of this car is that it is fantastic! Here are a few pros and cons in my own experience: Pros: -Great acceleration -Decent fuel economy for this type of car (I'm averaging 23-24 mpg with mostly city driving) -Great sound on Sony Premium Radio -Bright headlights that turn as you turn -Good amount of cargo capacity, especially with the rear seats folded down -Slightly stiff, but still very comfortable, sporty ride -Many reviews don't think the Recaros are comfortable, but I found myself used to them after one day of driving. They've definitely broken in. Cons: -Very limited on interior storage. There are only a small side pocket, a small center console, and a place for keys below the radio. -It can be difficult to get in and out of the Recaro seats. I often have to slide my chair back when getting out. -The navigation menus can be difficult and frustrating to navigate, even using the voice commands. -Rear headrests need to be removed to fold the seats down flat (or you have to slide your front seats way up) Overall, this vehicle has provided exactly what I was looking for: a daily commuter that is tons of fun and affordable. My initial want was a WRX, but I just couldn't pass up the value that this vehicle provides. I hope this review helps you in your car search!

Couldn't be happier.

Review Updated 2/8/2017 Purchased in September 2013. Almost 3 years and 24k miles later, I couldn't be happier with my Tangerine Scream Focus ST. The paint holds up great and it still shines like new after every wash. From how it looks inside and out to how it sounds and performs, it's an amazing car, especially for the asking price. The fit and finish is solid. The only shakes or rattles I have are from the loose change and random things I have in the hard plastic storage bins. Road noise on harsher road surfaces does travel into the cabin (due to the relatively stiff suspension), so it isn't a quiet car on every road surface. However, on a well-maintained highway, this car is very quiet. Don't pay sticker and look for incentives. I paid $4.5k under MSRP for a loaded ST3 (full leather seats, nav, sunroof, tricoat TS paint, "cargo net", etc). My mileage isn't great for several reasons so it shouldn't be considered typical. My daily commute is short (4 miles each way), I stomp on the pedals, and I power slide when no other cars are around. Lastly, my insurance premiums are low. I compared my quote from GEICO to other Focus trims and it was the same. Go figure! Overall, I can't express how much I still love this car. I worry if my next car will give me this much satisfaction. I look forward to driving it every single day!

1st American car since I was a teenager!

It was between the 2015 GTI and the 2014 focus ST. After long and hard thought, research, and numerous test-drives, I got the Focus ST 3 with all options (except moon roof). I honestly did not expect the 2014 ST to even be a contender when I was test-driving the GTI but, it was indeed! I test drove both the 2015 GTI and 2014 ST 3 times. Update: I now have 20k miles on it and no issues. The only one I had was navigation went out but was fixed under warrantee. I am surprised at the design and build quality of the ST. It's no surprise the 2014 ST was designed in Europe. It is a solid car and ride. I've owned German and Swedish cars and the ST drives like a European car. From the 3 test drives each, I realize that the ST did out-perform the GTI but was a close race for sure. One factor was that, even when I turned off the traction control on the GTI, it did not really turn off, which I did not like--at all. In my research, I also saw much more potential mechanical future problems with the GTI with numerous blogs of some folks selling their VW b/c of numerous mechanical problems and also higher costs to fix. The ST--unexpectedly--became not only a contender but a strong one at that. Jay Lenno's video about the Focus ST, and his endorsement, is what actually even got me started looking into the ST in the first place. The shifter feels great and not 'nothcy' at all and just has a great feel, compares well to a good German cars' feel. I do wish they switched the e-brake handle with the shifter. (the e-brake is closer to the driver than the shifter; I think it should be the other way around). I havea tuxedo black with grey rado wheels and red brake calipers and I've gotten a fair amount of compliments. The all-leather heated Racaro seats are really great!! ...I mean, really great. They're both comfortable and also supportive for spirited driving. I will say that I'm not at all overweight, which is a factor with these particular seats. Those, who are overweight or obese don't really fit into the Racaro seats well. The bolsters are aggressive and firm, which I love. When I test drove the GTI, the bolsters were fairly small but, even worse, soft and could be pushed down with one hand, which I didn't favor at all. I live in New England so, I did get an aftermarket set of rims so I can swap out performance winter tires and keep the summer performance tires during the summer. I've never been able to find an all season performance tire that performs as well as dedicated season-specific tires.. and I recommend getting the extra set of rims/tires for winter in a car like this...unless you don't really care about performance.

Adrenaline fix

Oddly, this car wasn't even on my radar as I was testing the JCW Mini Cooper S against the VW GTI and the Subaru WRX STI. After a rather uninspiring test drive of the mini, and being underwhelmed by the civility of the GTI, and disappointed with the over all feel and uninspired interior of the STI, I started reading reviews and watching youtube reviews on the turbo hot hatch division to see what other cars were in the same market, Surprisingly, this car came up high in the performance ratings, so I took one for a test drive. I was immediately impressed with the well appointed interior and feel of the full leather Recaro seats, it just felt like I was home. The ride was even more impressive than I was expecting, and although the torque steer was ever present, I actually found it enhanced the driving experience. 21342 miles. later, I still look for ANY excuse to drive somewhere, even the grocery store. The car stereo is more than adequate if you listen to loud music, but the somewhat noisy interior makes listening to Beethoven a little challenging. Being a diminutive 5 ft 7 inches, I find the fit of the car perfect, although my 6 ft tall friends found the fit a little constraining to fully enjoy the car's capabilities. If you are looking for a daily adrenaline fix, this car is for you. On the practical side, it has more than adequate space for cargo with a family of 4 like mine, and the comfort on 4-6 hour trips was comparable to my wife's 2012 Civic. My only real complaint is the smallish gas tank, 320 mile range is a little on the short side, but adequate for my daily commuting. Now if I can just keep my son from taking joy rides in it.... 50k miles and stage 3 mods later, still a REALLY FUN CAR.

Pocket. Rocket.

Wow. I switched from Mini Cooper S to a Focus ST with 202A package, Grey Rims, Moonroof (fully loaded). Obviously have more space and some better entertainment features as well. The Cooper handled slightly better but the ST has much more power. Have had no issues with the car, I've had it about a year and have put 23K miles on it. I did put winter tires on this season, which makes a huge difference, and I highly recommend. I'm getting around 27 MPG with mixed city/highway miles. The car is very well made and feels rock solid, this is not your base line Focus. Recaro seats are amazing, they are comfy, and I don't move doing 60 on "S" curves.

Red Rocket

What can I say that hasn't been said already? I have the ST3 package (minus sunroof) with Rado grey wheels and matte black vinyl racing stripes. The Recaros were definitely a tad uncomfortable at first, but once broken in, it fits like a glove (I'm quite a big guy too.. 6'2" 260lbs). Passenger seat still a bit stiff (just me in the car 75% of the time), but should break-in over time as well. I prefer this interior to the 2010 Mazdaspeed 3 I had a few years ago. Love the big nav screen and the usb/bluetooth integration. Stock sound system is pretty good as well. The ride is sporty, but not punishing. LOVE the torque delivery in this car. Makes on-ramps and cloverleafs an absolute joy. Plenty of grunt in any gear to get past people. I have a shade under 20k miles thus far and I've only had to do the routine maintenance and one recall (wiring harness TSB), although my vehicle was not showing any of the symptoms that prompted said TSB. I live in the PNW and the traction is phenomenal in the wet with all the driver aids left on. You can absolutely lean on this car in the pooring rain and not worry about losing it. Ford worked magic with this car. Turn-in is FANTASTIC. Never had a car that drove into corners as hard as this one does. You almost forget its FWD. Torquesteer is also limited (especially compared to the MS3). I've avg'd around 28mpg with 70% highway and a heavy foot. I did manage a few economy minded runs and got 34mpg. Overall a great package. If you're looking for something that has 4-doors and is fun to drive, the Focus ST is a great choice! Didn't hurt that it was $6k under MSRP either :)

2014 bought used in 2015

I've owned the car for 9 months. I'm 6'6" at 235-240lbs. Front leg room? I fit well. The car has the ST3 package and the Recaro seats aren't horrible, but I am a bit larger than the avg. 6' tall male, so for long trips you tend to re position often. Head room is great. I have 3 small kids (5 and under age wise). I have to scoot the seat up to get them in there and can still drive a short distance without too much of an issue. No way can you get 3 kids seats in the rear. I can squeeze in two booster seats and a child seat (front facing) back there (barely). I bought the car used, from 5 hrs away with 11,000 miles on it and drove it home without issue. The road noise is there for sure if the pavement isn't new or good smooth pavement. It could stand some sound deadening material. Performance wise its FUN. I've owned BMWs in the past and this car hangs right in there performance wise with them easily. Torque steer on this car is NO JOKE. You really need to be ready for the steering wheel pull when you drop down into gear and punch it. It could get away from you easily if you're not ready for it and used to it. As far as issues go, I do have the random issue with the stereo acting weird. Like I have to turn the car off to reset it to get it working correctly. Over all Sync is great. It recognizes voice very well. It did stop reading text messages to me when my Android phone went to Marshmallow (android 6.0). The gas mileage really stinks for a 4 cylinder engine. I drive 72 mph on the freeway 70 miles round trip a day. I get about 28 mpg at that speed ( I set the cruise and keep up with mileage). I once some how managed to get 30 mpg (not sure how this was done). I had a 2005 Caddy CTS V (bought used) that got 27 on the freeway and had double the HP and TRQ. So if you're trying to decide about a V8 hot rod and this little hot rod, I'd go for the V8, you'll get more performance and fun with the same gas mileage (there in or abouts). If you need a fun car that turns (at speed) very well in corners and what not, has great pickup and speed, for a really decent price, this is the car for you. Oh and if you need a car that has a small turning radius for busting a U'y for a parking spot or something similar, this isn't the car to do that. Also, the ride is great, AC works great, Stereo is pretty decent (7/10), Factory tires are summer tires (expect 25k life out of them) they do grip very well, very hard tire in cold weather. Interior lighting is very cool, the lights that turn on when you turn the wheel for corners and what not is a nice touch. It needs a backup camera in my opinion, but I'm sure that's probably available now in the more recent yr models.

2014 Focus ST

Great handling, plenty of power, too much torque steer upon hard acceleration. Wonderful value for the price. Disappointing gas mileage.

This is not your daddy's Focus

This is the third Focus we've had in my household and let me tell you this car is fast, fun and a joy to own. It is so unlike my previous Foci that I have taken the Focus badge off of the rear hatch, leaving only the distinctive ST badges front and rear. The car is in its element sticking in winding corners and wide open throttle accelleration. It is so much fun you may forget the practicality of the 4 door hatchback with room for 4 adults and fold down rear seating for more cargo. A final selling point for me is the offer of free track day at Miller Motorsport park in Tooele, UT where you are allowed to take one of their ST Octane Academy Focus ST and Fiesta STs out on two track. Since writing the above, I attended the ST Octane Academy. What a great time Ford has really nailed it!😂

Love at first turn

This car... my gosh, I could go on and on. Just take it on a curvy road and fly through them at 100mph... not that I would EVER do that, but if I did I’m sure it would be a blast and grip like a BEAST that escaped the fiery depths of hell! Like I said, I wouldn’t do that. That would be stupid and dangerous. There really isn’t anything wrong with this car. And to the people complaining about the seats and only having a manual transmission, please just go get your prius and stop bashing a car that’s not meant for you. And too cool for you. For real, this car ROCKS. Everyday I go to work, I grab my keys and I start smiling because I can’t wait. And then I get out and look back like 39 times, no 73 times and get really sad because I have to wait till next time. Don’t listen to the negative comments. Haters gonna hate. Love my 14 Ford Focus ST.

This is a Focus... Well... No... This is an ST.

Upon looking for the Ford ST, I opted for one with everything loaded. This car had to be the ultimate daily driver car. The Ultimate daily for me is a car that ticks all the right boxes. Is it fast... YES!!. Is it comfortable to drive.... YES!!! Is it reliable.... So far, YES. You're probably wondering why I'm not calling it a focus. In all honesty, this car does not remind me of a focus, sure it shares the same platform, has the same interior... almost. But the moment you sit in the car, the moment you drive the car, it does little to remind you it's a normal focus with all the low end torque and the pull of the steering wheel as you let it loose, yet at the same time it can feel like a well behaved commuter car on a day to day basis. The 6 speed manual is very easy to use and doesn't feel uncomfortable or tiring to use in heavy traffic. The full leather Recaro seats hug you in and provide a nice adjustable lumbar support feature, long road trips don't feel uncomfortable after a few hours. It is such a wonderful every day experience. The once your commute is done, bring this car to a twisty road or long straight away and let it loose, and this car will no doubt put a smile on your face. The great thing about this car, a company called Mountune provides warranty friendly upgrades to your car, You can upgrade your shifter, put in a better intake, exhaust, and intercooler and have it tuned with the Mountune access port and is covered with its own 3 year 36000 mile warranty without affected your cars current base or extended warranty. My only issue with this car is the fit and finish of the car, everything from paint defects to, fenders and clips for the bumpers and side skirts not holding together properly. The poorly designed premium sony audio system with a stupid volume leveler for when parts of the songs get too loud? or the poor XM radio quality. Those are the only issues I've really had and to be honest, when I have the pedal mashed to the floor hearing that turbo spool up as 252hp comes screaming through the front tires, I can live with it.

Feels like a go-kart for the road

This car is so fun to drive! The ST hugs the road and stays flat through fast tight turns. The torque is amazing. You can feel the pull pretty much in any gear. There's definitely torque steer, but it feels kinda fun. Just make sure to hold on tight whenever you floor it! I used to ride an R6 and in some ways the ST reminds me of how that feels!

DON'T GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY!!!!

Worse service possible. Paid 3000$ for extended warranty. It started w the local dealer losing paperwork, and never was found, hope they did the work they said. Next the dealership i bought the car at put stripped lug-nuts on the car. Was a a treat watching the tire shop guys getting them off. And most recently Autonation Ford in Valencia,CA lost my key and it was somehow my fault. Was able to drive car off lot but once turned off would not start due to lack of key in vehicle. They blamed me for losing my key and that's where they left it. So 400$ wasted on top of $3000. My drivers seat is broken and don't trust any dealership to fix. When i contacted Ford customer service i was told each dealership is independent so there is nothing they can do. Feel like i was taken pretty good by Ford. Love the car JUST DON'T GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY UNLESS YOU LIKE GETTING RIPPED OFF AND SUB PAR WORK. DON'T FEEL SAFE GETTING WORK DONE AT ANY FORD DEALERSHIP.

Consider what you want out of the car!

I like driving my Ford Focus ST, but I am very disappointed at the inside of the car. At first glance, the interior looks well made and noise free, but with less than 3 months I started to hear noises from the rattling of the back seat and after two dealership inspections, the only fix I was offered was to wrap the metal hook that latches the back seat with electrical tape to silence the rattling. withing 6 months, noises started to come from middle dashboard, the snap on style panels are poorly made and rub against each other. Other things also came to my attention, such as the upgraded Recaro bucket seat does not fit in the seat area, so when the seat is moved around the sides get smashed on the doors and armrest. Also, the moonroof sliding door rattles and makes noises. Mechanically speaking, the car is very fun to drive, but this car makes way too much rattling noise for age and condition of the car, and I drive mostly on reasonable roads. Additional Review later - Over the years, the roof panel is coming unglued and rattling more and more as the days goes by, so this car has proven to be very poorly finished with material and quality only good enough to last until you leave the dealership parking lot. Included with the poor quality/reliability of the cars interior is the fact that within less than 1 year of owning the car, it has been under 3 recalls, ranging from simple things as Nav Controler board to very serious issues such as cracks on doors locks that if broken, it would allow the door the open with the vehicle in motion, which Ford considered a non-serious issue and took about ~3 years to fix the known issue. And by the way, Ford does not give you a replacement car when the car needs to be fixed while under warranty or recalls, no matter how long it takes for the to fix it. (This was also experienced with my other car, a Ford Edge which I purchase this year brand new and the bumper is peeling. They want to keep the car for at least 3 days and refused to give me a replacement car so that I can go to work.) I love the mechanics and how the car drives, but I am so annoyed by the new noises that the lose interiors makes and the complete lack off Customer Service from Ford Motor Company and dealers (some of the personnel in the dealers try to help, but they hit walls within the company structure or bureaucracy), that my next car will NOT be a Ford. In short, I DO NOT RECOMMEND a ford unless you are going to strip the interior and never deal with them. Cheers and Good Luck.

I expected a lot more out of this hottest hatch

Within two years of the original sale the AC had failed and the heater core was leaking. I'd have better luck selling used dairy products door to door than selling this car as a pre-owned item. It depreciated faster than any other new car I've ever purchased. In addition to the fanboi base that this car is popular with, it's price/performance puts it in reach of new empty nesters looking for a useful yet sporty car with reasonable mileage. Face it, trying to get your hands on a modern performance sedan with a sunroof and a manual transmission isn't the easiest of tasks, and that said, this car seemed like a great option. Meh, not so much. Let's compare it to the MKV GTi it replaced; mileage was easily 7-10 MPG less, storage space was much less thanks to a small, oddly shaped rear hatch/lower roofline and the rear seats don't coming close to laying flat. Torque steer during acceleration was a nightmare and a prime reason why I ditched this thing. It was unsafe in the extreme. The GTi had about the same HP and it was a dream to throw around a twisty road or track, never feeling like it wanted to kill us. The interior layout was just confusing and busy instead of intuitive and easy to look at. I fit in the seat fine, but anyone who isn't athletic felt like they were being wedged in. In the end, twitchy power delivery does not equate to handling, and a hatchback does not guarantee useful space. I hope the next owner can afford getting the AC and heater core fixed. EDIT: Edmunds asked me to update the review and I did.

Amazing bang for your buck.

I've had the car for almost nine months and five thousand miles now resulting in the opinion that I do indeed like the car. Car handles great, the ST3 Recaro seats feel amazing (as does the heat when it is cold) and everything fits together well. Everyone that has gone for a ride in it is surprised at how nice the interior is. People walking by tell me how much they like the Performance Blue (blurple) and overall look of the car. Traded in a modded 350Z for it and I don't feel like I've really given up anything and gained far more than just torque steer. Update: At this point I've owned the car now for about 25 months and I've put roughly 13,800 miles on my car. What have I learned? My mpg aren't what they should be, but mostly because my commute is so short that by the time the engine is really warming up I'm parking my car. When resetting after getting gas when the engine has warmed up it is easy to do 25 mpg while driving around in town. Otherwise I'm sitting closer to 20 mpg. On the freeway I've been getting about 30 mpg going with traffic. Responds to mods well, especially throwing on a tune. It's amazing how much more power you can get from just a tune. Definitely helps give a few more smiles to the mile. Still enjoy the car and plan on having it for a long time to come.

HOT HATCH

Remember this car is a CORNER KING! Therefore, the car will feel much tighter compared to the base Focuses. Turbo has virtually no lag, and this car is so cheap to modify and personalize it! The leather recaros are a very nice addition, only downside is if you are a bit wider, you may feel like your gripped too hard by the recaro seats. I’m 6’ 2” and fit well in the front and back seats. But overall this car rocks

It's not worth the problems

Car is okay. I've had it for about 5 years now and have experienced more issues than I ever have in my 90s model cars. Head gasket, turbo seal, 3 water pumps, and a mysterious coolant issue that I can't figure out. I'm a mechanic and have done absolutely everything to figure out where I'm losing coolant and no luck. I've had it looked at by many mechanics at other shops as well across 3 different states and everyone is puzzled. Handles great, fun little sports car for a new driver for sure. If you have experience with sports cars, you won't find anything about this car to be special. I wish I never bought this thing to be honest. Has been headache after headache.

Lower car insurance rates for reals tho!

Overall comfort in buying this car was fine, except the dealer all the way to the bank were pushy yet not friendly and pushy. From that point, Ford was not at all the outstanding company I can remember from the chance of riding to town in my grandfather's ranger pickup. All the way to the moment I got a bit extra play with the steering wheel (of my focus ST), and my family had been Ford consumers for a majority of my life... since then my car has been in the shop more than not and I'm not exaggerated! It is just so awesome to have a little time to get out and enjoy the driving experience and I hear it could have been a way better experience had I bought a later model st by two months even. But instead I bought the 2014 one! Drivetrain, powertrain and body module issues down to the mechanical interior and exterior recalls this Ford is crap entirely bunk from the ground and to the roof top junked all the way! I paid 22grand for a lemon and I was just told to make lemon juice cause Ford was not there for me to get it back on the road. Big shout out to Newport Power Ford for their non competent team of cohorts who barely sneezed by with an mechanical aptitude test let alone an age automotive excellence degree.. I say there is no worse company from the inception of my purchase up until the last service that I had to be charged exorbitant fees for keyfobs that I could have replaced as a leiman or not knowledgeable about the issues at hand. By the last 7 week turnaround with no replacement driving vehicle or loaner car in the time being, I was offering up the way to repair the car and get it back to me soonest and they didn't heed my advice to boot and ended up admitting it was good info to help get it fixed! I say screw Ford and I will have to avoid any Ford that would have been a car of mine in my family for years to come.. need I say more? Thanks Ford motor company for dropping the ball on all fronts!!! I bid you adieu!!

Engineering Technician

Horrible Car

The Focus ST is a huge disappointment. I cant stand getting into this car each day. The interior is so tight I feel like I'm being squeezed in a vise. The center console intrudes into the cabin and there is no storage in the center console like most cars have. and the seats are hard and tight also. I have the recaros included with the ST3 package. Big mistake. they are very uncomfortable. The outward visibility is the worst I have ever seen in a hatchback. The windows are way to small, and the front windshield has this ridiculously huge slope. The car feels very heavy all the time, You can feel it when accelerating and is especially noticeable during corning. the steering is completely dead feeling and is overly twitchy. There is no Limited slip differential offered with this car so it just spins the wheels trying to get traction. I was coming from a 2003 Honda civic and i thought the focus st would be an improvement, but it is not even close to being as fun as that car. This car doesn't feel that much more powerful than my civic. Trying to live with this car is difficult because The turning radius is huge. 39 feet to turn is ridiculous. you will find yourself making a 3 point turn every time you try to park, and U turns are even more difficult to make. On top of all that the resale value is terrible. If your in the market for this type of car. There are much better options out there. Such as the Subaru WRX, Civic Hatchback or VW GTI. all are better alternatives to this crap ford.

Reliable hot hatch

I bought this car new, ST2 package. The car has been nearly flawless. One recall and a weird issue with the front axle, repaired under warranty. Otherwise has been extremely reliable, fuel efficient for the type of car, and the reasonable utility of a hatchback. Very fun to drive although the suspension can get a little annoying on longer drives on less than smooth roads. The shifter/transmission has been great with good, precise throws. Absolutely no regrets buying this car, only that I’ll have to be getting rid of it soon due to needing more room(kids/car seats).

A real Hottie will never be single too long!! I

Always check the vehicle history. Fine print tells you the Carfax isn’t always completely true.

paint no good

The paint is lifting on hatchback. The car is a 2014 and only has 13,490 miles on it. They don't back there paint job from factory. Wood not recommend buying a ford. They don't want to back there paint jobs. They say guaranteed for 5year. That is only if they rust,. Not if the paint peals. I had a Chevy that the paint lifted and they made it right. Did not have to wait until it rusted. To have Chevy paint and fixes the problem.

Do not buy this car

The focus st was great when I first bought this car, after 10,000 miles it turned into a nightmare. Constant problems that haven’t been resolved even after I have spent thousands. I cannot wait to trade this car in

Focus ST purchase

Don't overpay for a used one. These can be picked up fully loaded for 28,000 or less. At that price it is a deal. Car is very comfortable and very fast for a small Hatchback. The turbo is a lot of fun.